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Sat
Apr
08
Discover what plants and animals live in the salt marsh at this fun walk for families.
Price: FREE
WHEN: April 8 10:00-11:30 am WHERE: Cox Reservation 82 Eastern Ave. Essex, MA WHAT: North Shore Nature Programs will lead this outing onto the salt marsh to explore the various creatures and plants that live in this ecosystem. We'll get our boots muddy in this hands-on activity with expert children's nature educator, Andrew Prazar. Bathrooms available on site. Snacks provided!
Tue
Apr
11
SOLD OUT! Stay tune for more mushroom-focused events in the second half of the year!
Price: FREE
*This is the same talk as the March 15 event, which was sold out very quickly! Huge thanks to Maria for reprising the talk for those who did not get a ticket to the previous presentation!* WHEN: Tues., April 11, 6:00 pm WHERE: Backbeat Brewing Company* in Beverly, MA *Accessible on the Rockport/Newburyport Commuter Rail Line! WHAT: Mushroom fever swept the Northeast in 2021 with serious spring and summer rainfalls resulting in an abundance of mushrooms that was hard to ignore. Suddenly, mycology soared into popular culture and books about fungus rose to the best sellers lists. If you've heard about Suzanne Simard's seminal Finding the Mother Tree or Merlin Sheldrake's wildly popular Entangled Life, or even if you've just become curious about the mushrooms near your home, this talk is for you. Local mycophile Maria Pinto will dig into the fascinating world of mycorrhizal fungi and shed light on the special relationships they build with trees. She will discuss the disagreement among scientists about the theory that forests are connected by a "wood-wide web," and her talk will also showcase some of the surprising ways humans have benefitted from mycorrhizal connections. Maria is an educator, author, and a member of the Boston Mycological Club. Coffee, beer and food all available for purchase at Backbeat Brewing Co.!
Thu
Apr
20
Exclusive tour of Brick Ends farm with owner Peter Britton, followed by goodies from Unpacked Living, a zero waste shop.
Price: FREE
WHEN: April 20, 2023 9:30-11:00 am WHERE: Brick Ends Farm 464 Highland Street Hamilton, MA WHAT: Owner Peter Britton will lead this special behind-the-scenes tour of Hamilton's Brick Ends Farm compost facility and describe how the operation came to be, how it works, and how it benefits the local community. We'll then take a tour around First Light Farm, its associated organic vegetable farm and CSA. Parts of the farm and surrounding areas are protected by various conservation restrictions held by Greenbelt, and the trail system connects into Greenbelt's Vineyard Hill Reservation property. Most parts of the compost facility are not usually open to the public, so if you've ever wondered what lies beyond the trails, this is your opportunity to learn about this unique partnership! As a special Earth Month bonus, registered participants will be offered goodies from Unpacked Living, a zero waste shop in Beverly (as supplies last). Many thanks to Peter Britton (Brick Ends Farm) and Sabrina Auclair (Unpacked Living) for their partnerships!
Sat
May
06
Guided ride showcasing fun trails on conserved land. Beginners welcome!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Saturday, May 6 (raindate: May 7) 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Approx. 35 miles No rider left behind! All experience levels welcome! WHERE: Willowdale Meadow Topsfield, MA (exact starting point TBA!) WHAT: This gravel bike outing is designed to be fun for riders of all levels. Experienced riders can go ahead with one of the guides to enjoy speed and excitement. Newer riders can follow another guide for a more relaxed pace. Beginners welcome! We'll provide a GPX file and route, but don't worry if you're new-- you'll have a guide and a group to ride with so no one will get lost or left behind! This ride is specifically designed for gravel bikes, cyclocross or hardtail mountain bikes. Road bikes would not be appropriate for the terrain. Helmets required. If you have any questions about the ride, please reach out to jane@ecga.org
Wed
May
10
If you've ever worried about getting lost on Greenbelt trails, join us to learn how to use this great navigation tool.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Wed., May 10 9:30 am - 10:30 am Cox Reservation, Essex Learn to navigate trails using the GreenbeltGo app! Greenbelt's Director of Conservation Technology and Planning Division, Abby Hardy-Moss and our Geographic and Technical Support Specialist Dave Heacock will walk you through how to use the app. You'll learn about the features of the app, how to find maps and directions, and how to use the live location function to help you "stay found" (not lost!) on the trail. Then the group will go for a walk around Cox Reservation to get used to how the map and location functions work, with in-person support from Abby and Dave.
Sat
May
20
Peek inside a beehive, make a beeswax candle, take home a butterfly plant, taste some honey, enjoy a scavenger hunt, and much more!
Price: FREE
WHEN: May 20, 2023 10:00am - 1:00 pm WHERE: Cox Reservation 82 Eastern Avenue Essex Join us to peek inside the beehives at Cox Reservation from the safety of a screened-in tent! This show and tell introduces children of all ages to the importance of bees and other pollinators. In addition to the hive opening, we'll have snacks and activities scattered around the property. Activities provided by: Greenbelt, Essex County Beekeepers Association, The Monarch Gardner, and North Shore Nature Programs. Bathrooms will be available. Bring a picnic and come enjoy the day!
June 9-10 at Cox Reservation 100+ artists! Paintings, pastels, watercolors, ceramics, sculpture and more! Proceeds go toward Greenbelt's conservation work around Essex County. Jury applications for new artists will open up in mid-February and will be due April 2. Check ecga.org/artinthebarn for updates and application instructions for new artists!
Some events in the 2023 Film & Lecture Series will be in person, others will be virtual.
82 Eastern Avenue
PO Box 1026
Essex, MA 01929
e. Contact by Email
p. 978.768.7241
Greenbelt thanks the photographers whose work is featured prominently on our website: Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre & Neil Ungerleider